Chair



L. E. GOENEN June 15, 1937.

cHAIR Filed May 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v,Hill/"Ava- Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STT PAT OFFICE CHAIR Leo E. Goenen, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Fritz-Cross Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 19, 1934, Serial No. 726,516

10 Claims. (Cl. 155-53) My invention relates to chairs and has foran tion provides a construction by means of which object to provide a chair constructed with a back the back rest is automatically moved into posirest adapted to be automatically adjusted to fit tion to engagethe back of the occupant when the the back of the occupant when the occupant sea'ts occupant seats himself upon the chair and rehimself upon the seat of the chair. gardless of his position on the chair.

Another object of the invention resides in pro- For the purpose of illustrating my invention, viding a chair constructed with a frame having I have shown the invention as embodied in a a back rest mounted thereon for movement in a stenographer's chair, or a chair used for similar back and forth direction. purposes. This chair is indicated in its entirety A still further object of the invention resides by the reference character A and comprises a 10 in providing a seat on the chair, mounted thereon base IG which supports a superstructure indifor up and down movement. cat-ed by the reference character Il. This super- An object of the invention resides in providing structure includes a seat l2 and further includes a device for moving said back rest in a back and a back rest lt, both mounted in a manner to be forth direction upon movement of the seat in an automatically adjusted through the action of the 15 up and down direction. seat i2. These various parts will now be described Another object of the invention resides in proin detail. Viding an upright pivoted at its lower end to the The base iii consists of four legs M, 15, IG and frame of the chair and carrying at its upper end l'i, which are preferably constructed of metal 2 the back rest. tubing bent to form longitudinally extending por- A feature of the invention resides in providing tions |8 and radially extending portions IS proan arm attached to said upright, movable with jecting outwardly from the longitudinally exsaid upright, and extending below said seat, said tending portions. The longitudinally extending arm being adapted to being moved through the portions IS are mounted in a head 20 and are action of said seat to swing the upright and rigidly secured thereto so as to cause the radially 25 cause the back rest to travel in a back and forth extending portions |9 to project outwardly from direction. head in the desired manner. The extreme ends A feature of the invention resides in pivoting of the legs are bent downwardly as designated the seat to the frame. at 2| and are provided with casters 22 by means Another object of the invention resides in of which the chair may be supported on the floor. 30 mounting the back rest for Vertical adjustment The superstructure H includes a frame 23, best relative to the upright. shown in Fig. 4. This frame is constructed from Other objects of the invention reside in the a rectangular bar of metal which is bent to pronovel combination and arrangement of parts and Vide a front transverse frame member 24, two in the details of construction thereof. longitudinally extending lateral frame members 35 In the drawings: 25 and 2(5 and a rear transverse frame member Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chair illustrat- 27. The ends Of the bal' fl'Om WhiCh the frame ing an embodiment of my invention. 23 is constructed are joined as indicated at 28, Fig. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken the J'Oint being frmed in the rear frame member 49 on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 27. Between the two frame members 21 and 24 Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the are placed braces 29 and 3d. These braces are parts in altered position. provided with spaced parallel reaches 3| and 32 Fig. 4 is an inverted plan sectional view of the and with angularly disposed portions 33 extendchair shown in Fig. 1. ing towards the frame members 27 and 24. The

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the' extreme ends of these braces are provided with 45 supporting structure for the back rest, drawn to a fianges 3 which are riveted or otherwise secured larger scale. to the frame members 21 and 24. Between the Fig. 6 is a plan sectional view taken on line two reaches 3| and 32 of the braces 29 and 30 6-6 of Fig. 5. is disposed a block 35 which is rigidly attached In the use of chairs it frequently occurs that to the said reaches through bolts 36. Block 35 50 the occupant assumes various positions on the is constructed with a boss 31 which is bored to chair and it becomes highly desirable, where a receive a vertically extended spindle 38. This back rest is provided, that the back rest function spindle is rigidly secured inthe boss 31 and proin the desired manner regardless of the position jects downwardly through an opening in the head of the occupant on the Chair. The present inven- 26 which has not been illustrated in the draw- 55 i is attached to the supporting structure 50.

ings. The spindle 33 is constructed at suitable intervals with drilled openings 39 which are adapted to receive a set screw 46 threaded into the head 20. By means of this construction the elevation of the seat E2 of the chair may be adjusted to suit the occupant.

The seat |2 may be constructed in any suitable manner. If desired the same can be constructed of a single piece of Wood or some other suitable material, or the seat may be formed with a Wood hacking which can be upholstered in the customary manner. The seat |2 is of dimensions slightly larger than the frame 23 so that when the seat is placed above the frame. theedg'es of the seat, which are rounded, overhang the frame and cover the same, thereby preventing the user's clothing from being caught in the frame and at the same time providing a neat and attractive construction. The seat |2 is pivoted near its forward edge 4| to the front transverse frame member 24. For this purpose two hinges 4'2 and 43 are employed, which hinges have one leaf riveted to the frame member 26 and the other leaflattaohed to the bottom of the seat through screws 44. The seat proper is slightly raised at its forward edge 4| above the upper edge o'f the transverse frame member 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the seat may swing about the hinges 42 and 43 to perform its intended function.

For the purpose of supporting the back rest |3, a supporting structure V56 is employed which is preferably constructed from a single bar of metal of rectangular cross section similar to the metal Vfrom which the frame 23 is constructed. This bar is constructed withl two uprights 48 and 46 which are bent to provide Curved rear portions 41 which clear the frame member 21 of the frame When the uprights are in position and which also clear the rear edge of the 'sea-t |2. Near the upper ends of the uprights 45 and 46 the same are provided with quarter twists 48 and at the same locality said uprights are offset to provide portions 49 by means of which the back rest |3 The extreme ends of the uprights 45 andt are connected together through an integral tie member 5| which is bent from the single bar from which the entire back rest supporting'structure is formed and which is `a'dapted to extend parallel with the back rest proper. The uprights 45 and 46 are further bent to provide horizontally extending portions 52 which have riveted to them a transversely extending cross bar 65. This bar is provided at its extreme ends with upturned ears 54 which are pivoted to the longitudinally extending frame members and 26 of frame 23 through rivets 55. By means of this construction the uprights and 46 are pivoted for swinging movement so that the back rest |3 may travel in a back and forth direction between its limits of movement shown in Figs. Z and 3.v

The back rest |3 may be constructed in any suitable manner, the same as the seat |2. If desired a solid block of wood may be used or a hacking employed which may be upholstered the sameiasthe seat |2. Inasmuch as the construction of the back rest forms no particular feature of the invention the same has not been shown in detail in the drawings. Said back rest is however provided at its ends with suitable material, such as Wood or the like, through which the back rest may be attached to the supporting structure 50. For attaching the back rest to the uprights 45 and 46 two brackets 56'are employed which aosaes are constructed at their ends with offset portions 51 and 58. These brackets are best shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. The offset portions 58 are drilled as designated at 59 to receive screws 6| which are screwed into the Wood of the back rest |3 at the ends thereof. If desired, washers 62 may be placed between the back rest and the offset portions 58. The drilled holes 59 are suficiently loose and the screws are tightened only to such an extent that the back rest may be turned about said screws as pivots and so that sufficient friction exists to cause the back rest to remain in any desired adjusted position.

The portions 49 of the uprights 45 and 46 are provided with slots 63. The offset portions 51 of the brackets 56 are provided with holes 64. These parts are held together through bolts 65 which pass jointly through the said slots and holes and clamp the parts together. The bolts 65 have wing nuts 66 applied to the ends thereof by means of which the said brackets may be easily and quickly adjusted. The brackets 56 are rotatable upon the bolts 65 with respect to the uprights 45 and 46. For the purpose of holding the said brackets in proper adjusted position'the said brackets are constructed with a number of steel balls 61 which are embedded into the metal of the offset portions 51 of said brackets and which are adapted to engage any of a number of depressions 66 formed in the portions 49 of the uprights 45 and 46. In the drawings I have shown each of the brackets as provided with six balls which permits of arranging the depressions 6B in two rows parallel with the slot 63. The outer balls all extend 'along the said rows of depressions while the center balls extend along the slot 63. By means of this construction added Vertical adjustment can be procured by swinging the brackets 56 as well as by raising and lowering the same along slot 63.

For the purpose of swinging the back rest |3 in a back and forth direction through the action of seat |2 the portions 52 of uprights 45 and 46 are constructed with arms 1| and 12 which lie in continuation of said portions 52 and which extend beneath the seat |2. These arms are constructed near their ends with cam portions 13 which are adapted to engage shoes 14 secured to the under side of the seat |2. When pressure is applied to the seat as through the weight of the occupant thereon, the shoes 14 engage the cam portion 13 and swing the arms 1| and 12 downwardly. This has the effect of swinging the uprights 45 and 46 about the pivots formed through the rivets moving the back rest |3 forwardly.

The back rest |3 and the seat |2 are returned to normal position, as shown in Fig. 2, through two leaf Springs 15 and 16 which extend beneath the seat proper and which are attached to the frame 23. The ends of these leaf Springs engage fingers 11 on the ends of the arms 1| and 12 and serve to force the said arms upwardly, thereby lifting the seat |2 and swinging the back rest |3 rearvvardly.` Springs 15 and 16 are attached to brackets 16 which are angular in construction and which are riveted to the longitudinally extending frame members 25 and 26 of the frame The exact construction and the method of mounting the said Springs is best shown in Figs. Z, 3 and 4.

For the purpose of holding the parts together, the shoes 14 are constructed channel shaped and are formed with flanges 19 at the edges thereof. The cam portions 13 of arms 1| and 12 lie in between these fianges which serve to restrain LlU lateral movement of the seat relative to the supporting structure for the back rest. A pin 8| extending through the flanges 19 engages beneath the cam portion 13 and holds the said cam portion in close proximity to the engaging surface of the shoes W. The cam portion 13 is of such length that radial movement of the said cam with respect to the axis of the hinges 42 and 43 is compensated for so that the parts may swing in the desired manner without limitation.

To support the seat I 2 in its lowermost position two clip angles 82 are employed which are riveted to the rear frame member 21 and project inwardly of the frame. These clip angles are arranged with their free fiange 83 disposed slightly above the plane of the upper edge of the frame23 so that when the seat is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 3, the said seat rests directly upon said clip' angles. Movement of the back rest |3 in a rearward direction is limited through pins 84 which are attached to the longitudinally extending frame members 2G and which are engaged b-y the arms 1| and 72.

The operation of the invention is as follows. When the parts are in normal position the Springs 15 urge the fingers 'H upwardly, which causes the two' uprights 45 and 46 and back rest |3 to occupy a rearward position. When the occupant seats himself upon the seat |2, the weight of the occupant causes the seat to swing about the axis of the two hinges 42 and 43, the said seat moving downwardly towards its position shown in Fig. 3. This causes the shoes 'M to bear upon the two cam portions '53 of arms 'H and 12, which sWings the said arms downwardly and moves the two uprights 45 and 46 together with the back rest |3 carried thereby forwardly. Movement of the back rest in a forward direction continues until the back rest engages the back of the occupant, whereupon further movement of the said back rest is terminated. Due to the action of the weight of the occupant upon the seat IZ, a constant pressure is exerted upon uprights 45 and 46 which maintains the back rest l3 at all times in engagement with the back of the occupant.

By the selection of the proper length of the arms 'li 'and 'E2 and the proper distance from the hinges and 43 of the shoes 16, the chair may be so designed that when the occupant is seated upon the chair any desired amount of pressure may be exerted by the back rest against the back of the occupant. It will be noted that arms 'H and 72 are relatively short so that but a very small movement of the seat |2 is required to procure full movement of the back rest |3. If during the seating of the occupant the position of the occupant is changed, then the back rest |3 is automatically repositioned to accommcdate the new position of the occupant. In this manner the back rest is at all times functioning in the proper manner to engage the back of the occupant With the desired degree of pressure.

My invention is highly advantageous in that an extremely simple and p'ractical device is provided by means of which the back rest is caused to engage the black of the occupant at all positions of the occupant upon the chair. The for- Ward. movement of the back rest is terminated through engagement |of the back rest with the back of the occup-ant. In my invention a certain amount of pressure is at all times exerted through the back rest upon the back of the occupant, thereby rendering it unnecessary for the occupant to adjust himself with respect to the chair. The angular movement of the seat is so slight as to not appreciably vary the position of the seat so that the difference in angularity of the seat is not noticeable to the occupant. My invention is entirely automatic in operation and after the back rest has been adjusted for height, will require no further attention. The invention is extremely simple and will not readily get out of order. With my invention a minimum number of adjustments are required.

Changes in the specific form of my invention as herein clisclosed may 'be made within the scope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a chair, a frame, an upright pivoted to said frame, a back rest carried by said upright and swingable in a back and forth direction, a seat pivoted at its forward edge to said frame and swingab'le in an up' and down direction, an arm movable with said upright and extending in a forward direction beneath said seat, means on the underside of said seat for engagement With the upper surface of said arm, said seat causing back and forth movement of said back rest through movement of saidv arm, and a spring secured to said frame and engaging said arm, said spring urging said arm upwardly into engagement with the cooperating means on the underside of the seat.

2. In a chair, a frame, a back rest carried by the frame and movable in a back and forth direction, a seat carried by said frame and guided for up and down movement, and means operated by downward movement of said seat for swinging the back rest forwardly.

3. In a chair, a frame, a back rest carried by the frame and movable in a back and forth direction, a seat carried by said frame and guided for up and down movement, and means operated by downward movement of the rear portion of said seat for swinging said back rest forwardly.

4. In a chair, a frame, an upright pivoted to said frame, a back rest carried by said upright and swingable in a back and forth direction, a seat pivoted at its forward edge to said frame and swingable in an up and down direction, an arm rigid with said upright and extending forwardly of the pivot connecting said upright to the frame and projecting beneath said seat, means on said seat in engagement With said arm whereby downward movement of said seat will procure forward movement of said back rest, and resilient means on said frame in engagement with a portion of said arm and operative to move said arm upwardly thereby raising said seat and swinging said back rest rearwardly.

5. In a chair, a frame, an upright pivoted to said frame, a back rest carried by said upright and swingable in a back and forth direction, a seat pivoted at its forward edge to said frame and swingable in an up and down direction, an arm fixed relative to said upright and extending forwardly of the pivot connecting the upright to the frame and projecting beneath said seat, and means on said seat in engagement With said arm whereby downward movement of said seat will procure forward movement of said back rest.

6. In a chair, a frame, an upright pivoted to said frame, a back rest carried by said upright an-d swingable in a back and forth direction, a seat pivoted at its forward edge to said frame and swingable in an up and down direction, an arm fixed relative to said upright and extending forwardly of 'the pivot connecting the upright to the frame and projectingbeneath said seat, means on saidl seat in engagement with said arm whereby downward `movement of said seat will procure forward movement of said back rest, and resilient means carried by said frame for moving said back rest rearwardly.

'7. In aehair, a frarne, a seat pivoted at its forward edge to said frame, an upright pivoted to the rearward portion of said frame, a back rest carried by lsaid upright, said upright comprising a bar having an arm extending forwardly of the pivot for said upright and beneath said seat, and means on said seat in engagement With said arm.

8. In a chair, a frame, a seat pivoted at its forward edge to said frame, an upright pivoted to the rear'ward portion of 'said frame, a back rest carried by said upright, said upright cornprising a bar having an arm extending forwardiy of the pivot for said upright and beneath said seat, means on said seat in engagement with said arni, and resilient means on said frame in engageinent with said arm and urging said arm upwardly.

9. In a chair, a frame, a seat pivoted at its forward edge to said frame, an upright pivoted to the rea-rward portion of the frame, a back rest carried by said upright, an arm fixed relative to said upright and extending forwardly of the pivot connecting said upright to the frame and projecting beneath said seat, said arm and said upright being swingable together in a Vertical plane about said pivot, means on said seat forming a horizontaliy extending guideway, and means on the forward portion of said arm engaging said guideway, whereby the swinging of said arm and said upright is guided and the seat is moved up and down about its pivot by said arm.

10. In a chair, a rectangular frame comprising front, rear and side frame members, a seat pivoted to said frame in the vicinity of said front frame member, a pair of uprights p'ivoted to said frame in the Vicinity of said rear frame member, a back rest carried by said uprights, arms fixed relative to sai'd uprghts and extending forwardly of the rear frame member and along the side frame members, means on said seat in eng'agement with said arms, and Springs on said side frame members and engaging said arms, said Springs urging said arms upwardly and operating to move the back rest rearwardly and the seat upwardly.

LEO E. GOENEN. 

